Hyundai Elantra GT 2013

Hyundai Elantra GT 2013 (model year) makes its official U.S. premiere in Chicago!

Major car shows have always been the perfect platform for automakers to introduce their new models to the world, and the Chicago Auto Show has been chosen by Hyundai as the launching pad for their 2013 Elantra GT .

This is all part of Hyundai’s plan to expend their increasingly popular Elantra line-up, and by adding a 5-door hatchback, they are entering into some very competitive territory.

The biggest competition will come from the Ford Focus, Mazda3 and Volkswagen Golf, all of whom already have a pretty solid stranglehold in the market, which makes the job of the Hyundai Elantra GT 2013 (model year) a whole lot harder.

A quick look at what the new Hyundai has to offer though makes it pretty clear that they are more than up for the challenge.

The 2013 Elantra GT has already proven to be a hit in the European market, although under the i30 name, and it’s Hyundai’s goal to bring that success to the North American market.

Mike O’Brien, vice president, Product and Corporate Planning, Hyundai Motor America also expressed that Hyundai is looking to redefine the way we think of a compact car.

With that in mind, he said the focus was to make the car fun to drive, yet still functional and fuel efficient in a way that consumers have come to associate with the Hyundai brand.

One way that Hyundai has added that “fun” stamp to the Elantra GT 2013 is by instating the “Fluidic Sculpture” style of design that has become the standard for all their vehicles. That design adds a touch of sportiness that you don’t always expect to find in a compact 5-door vehicle.

It also just happens to be the lightest vehicle in the category, but that doesn’t mean that they have cut down on size and space in order to achieve that. The interior of the Hyundai Elantra GT is roomier than its major competitors, and that is a big plus for drivers who need a little extra legroom.

Hyundai Elantra GT engine & transmission

There is also some power under the hood as the GT sports the same 1.8L inline four-cylinder as the 4-door Elantra sedan, sending 148 horsepower and 131 pound-feet of torque to the ground.

That is achieved with either a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission, and despite its power the 2013 Elantra GT still manages to impress in the fuel efficiency department with 28 mpg in the city, and 39 mpg on the highway. That’s just the beginning of the goodies though, and there is much more to like both inside and out.

The basic model of the all-new Hyundai Elantra GT 2013 includes heated front seats, a cooled glove box, Bluetooth connectivity, and a host of other bells and whistles that you’d only expect to find as upgrades. Add to that an industry best cargo storage capacity, hidden rear camera, and sport suspension, and you have a car that is about to take the 5-door compact class by storm when it hits the streets this summer.